Sprayer

ABSTRACT

A hand controlled trigger sprayer is provided which is particularly suited for dispensing pesticides in atomized droplets for flushing and contact, for aerosol space treatment and for straight stream spray, for use with a pressure tank containing the liquid to be dispensed and with an auxiliary and controlled supply of gas such as CO2 under pressure. The structure is portable, and includes an auxiliary tubular attachment for crack and crevice treatment.

United States Patet 1 1 UNITED STATES PATENTS ShOwalter' May 13, 1975541 SPRAYER 1268 1 1 gig/Z88 1 .t 14

['75] Inventor: Omar V. Showalter, Pipersville, Pa. to g l [73]Assignee: William L. Brehm. Atlanta. Ga. Primary Examiner-M Henson d,

Assistant Examiner-John J. Love [22] Filed: 1974 Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Zachary T. Wobensmith. [21] Appl. No.: 441,958 2nd; Zachary T.Wobensmith, Ill

52 us. 01 239/415; 239/528 [57] ABSTRACT 51 1m. (:1 BOSb 7/12 A handControlled tflgger Sprayer 1s provlded whlch 1s [58] Field s 239/414 415526428 particularly suited for dispensing pesticides in atom- 239/587583 ized droplets for flushing and contact, for aerosol space treatmentand for straight stream spray. for use 5 References Cited with apressure tank containing the liquid to be dispensed and with anauxiliary and controlled supply of gas such as CO under pressure. Thestructure is por- 11-958-73O 5/1934 F 239/415 table, and includes anauxiliary tubular attachment for 2,8Q4 343 8/1957 Friedell 239/415 Crackand crevice treatment. 1 2,829,006 4/1958 Johansson 1 239/415 X3,352,333 11/1967 Glasgow et a1. 239/415 X 11 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures69 7 0 I M L l PATENIEU HAY I 3 i975 SHEET 10F 2 SPRAYER BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates tosprayers and more particularly to a multi-purpose sprayer which isadjustable to provide the desired liquid particle size.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art Various types of dispensers haveheretofore been proposed for pest control treatment.

Systems heretofore available required the use of gasoline or electricmotors, motor operated pumps, electrical or other power supplies, orwere of exceedingly complicated construction if a wide range ofadjustability was desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention a portablehand trigger controlled sprayer is provided utilizing as independentpressure sources, a source of liquid from a pressurized tank and asupply of gas such as CO from a portable cylinder, with an improvednozzle construction being employed to obtain a very wide range of liquidparticle size.

It is the principal object of the invention to provide a portable handoperated trigger controlled sprayer having a wide range of adjustabilityof delivered particle size.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a sprayer whichutilizes two independent sources of pressure, one for the liquid to bedispensed and one which can be used with the liquid for affecting theliquid particle size and can be directed in a hollow tubular pattern insurrounding relation to the stream of particularized liquid.

Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will beapparent from the description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The nature and characteristic featuresof the invention will be more readily understood from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings formingpart hereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of a hand trigger operated sprayer inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal central sectional view, enlarged, of the handleportion of the sprayer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal central sectional view, still further enlarged,of the valve and nozzle portion of the sprayer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view in perspective of a valve plunger spool removed fromFIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken approximately on the line5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken approximately on the line6-6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken approximately on the line 77of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken approximately on the line8-8 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 9 is a view showing a modification of the structure of FIG. 3 wherea tubular extension is desired for crack or crevice treatment.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawingsherein are illustrative merely and that various modifications andchanges can be made in the structure disclosed without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularly tothe drawings a body 10 is shown, which serves as a handle, can be ofmolded synthetic plastic, having a pistol grip handle 11 and a manuallyoperable trigger l2, pivoted on a pivot pin 13 in the body 10.

An actuating and control rod 15 extends through an opening 16 in and isconnected to the trigger 12 by a pivot pin 17. The rear end of the rod15 is slidably carried and guided in a bushing 18 in the body. The rod15 extends forwardly through a bushing 19 rigidly carried in the frontof the body 10. The bushing 19 has, in threaded engagement in the rearthereof, a gland 20, which engages a packing 21 for preventing fluidleakage at this location.

A liquid supply pipe 23 is provided, connected to a liquid tank (notshown) with a hand pump (not shown) for pressurizing the liquid in thetank for delivery to the pipe 23. In a specific embodiment the tankoperating pressure can be of the order of 10 psi.

The body 10, in the interior thereof, has a fluid connection 24 fordelivery of liquid from the tank, through the supply pipe 23 and to theinterior of the bushing 19.

The bushing 19 extends forwardly from the body 10 and has a threadedportion 25 for the reception of the sprayer control body 30 in threadedengagement therewith. The bushing 19 can have a groove 31 thereon toavoid any binding of the control body 30 on the bushing 19.

The exposed exterior portion of the control body 30 can be provided witha hexagonal shape as at 32 to facilitate assembly and disassembly.

The control body 30 has an external cylindrical surface 33, with agroove 34 therein for the reception of a packing, such as an O-ring 35,an external cylindrical surface 36, with spaced longitudinally axiallyelongated grooves 37 and 38, for the reception of packings such asO-rings 39 and 40, and a threaded end portion 42.

The surfaces 33 and 36 pivotally support a supply fitting 45 which isheld against a shoulder 46 on the control body 30, by an internallythreaded nozzle nut 47. The external surface 48 of the nut 47 ispreferably knurled to facilitate assembly and disassembly.

The supply fitting 45 has an interior surface 49, spaced from thesurface 36 to provide a fluid space 50, fluid leakage therefromlongitudinally axially being prevented in one direction by the packing35 and in the other direction by the packing 39.

The supply fitting 45 has a pipe 52 connected thereto for the controlledsupply of gas under pressure thereto, CO or air being preferreddependent upon the material to be sprayed. In a specific embodiment ofthe invention the pressure of the gas supplied to the fitting 45 can beof the order of 30 psi.

The rod 15 has a forward threaded end 55 on which a valve plunger 56 ismounted. The valve plunger 56 has a rear face 57 which serves as anabutment for a compression spring 58 which urges the rod 15 and plunger56 to the right as seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The spring 58 is disposedwithin an interior space 59 in the bushing 19, and abuts at its rear endagainst a shoulder 14 in the bushing 19.

The passageway 24 is in continuous communication with the space 59 forthe delivery thereto of liquid to bedispensed in spray form.

The sprayer control body 30 has an inner enlargement 60 with which thespace 59 is in continuous communication. A longitudinal axial bore 61extends forwardly to a shoulder 62 having a rear frustoconical face 63.From the shoulder 62 a longitudinal axial bore 64, of larger internaldiameter than that of the bore 61 extends to a front terminal face 65which is spaced from the interior of the nozzle nut 47 to provide afluid space 66.

The valve plunger 56 has a peripheral portion 68 with a groove 69therein for the reception of a packing 70 engaged with the bore 61 andwith the valve plunger 56 to prevent fluid leakage, and is movabletherealong with movement of the plunger 56.

The valve plunger 56 has a peripheral portion 71 spaced inwardly fromthe bore 61, to provide a fluid space 72, and has an elongated groove 73with a packing 74 such as an Oring therein. The packing 74, which ispositioned in engagement with the inner face of the shoulder 62 and cutsoff flow at that location, can be retracted to a position to clear theshoulder 62 and permit fluid to pass. The shoulders 73b and 73c move thepacking to effect this action.

The valve plunger 56 also has a groove 75 for the reception of a packing76 such as an O-ring, to prevent fluid leakage at this location.

The valve plunger 56 has an end portion 77, of lesser diameter than thatof the peripheral portion 71.

The fluid space 50 is connected to the space 72 by a passageway 67 inthe control body 30.

The end portion 77 of the valve plunger 56 has a peripheral surface 78of lesser diameter than that of the peripheral portion 71, has a groove79 with a root 79a and end walls 79b and 79c for the reception of apacking 80, such as an O-ring, to function like the packing 74 as ashut-off, in one position and in a retracted position permit flow fordischarge. The end portion 77 has a transverse terminal end face 81 andhas a pin 82 extending longitudinally axially therefrom.

The shoulders 73b and 73c are spaced further apart than the shoulders79b and 79c so that fluid flow past the packing ring 74 will take placebefore fluid flow occurs past the packing 80.

The valve plunger 56 has a transverse passageway 83 therein connectingthe space 59 with a longitudinal internal bore 84 and a transversepassageway 85 therein for liquid delivery.

A valve plunger spool 88 is provided having an end, wall 89 forengagement with the shoulder 62, the end! The spool 88 has, extendingtherefrom, a tubular extension 95 with an outer surface 96 spacedinwardly" The spool 88 has an inner bore 102, spaced from the peripheralportion 71 and bounding the space 54, an intermediate bore 103, spacedfrom the peripheral surface 78, and an end bore 104 spaced from theexterior of the pin 82 to provide a fluid discharge passageway 105.

The packing 76 in the groove engages the bore 102 to prevent fluidleakage at this location.

The packing is similar to the packing 74, does not, in operation,simultaneously engage the root 75a and the bore 103 but has a clearanceto permit fluid to pass for delivery through the passageway 105. Thepacking 80 is deformable by engagement of the wall 79b to engage thebore 103 to block fluid flow.

White the structure heretofore described has a wide range of usefulness,if it' is desired to dispense material into cracks and crevices this canbe effected with the modified form of the invention illustrated in FIG.9.

The nozzle nut 47 is provided with an extension having a threadedportion 110 and tubular end 111. The pin 82, and extension are extendedto terminate at the extremity of the tubular end 111 and the passageways98 and correspondingly extended.

A dispensing tube 112 with an outwardly extending rim 113 is rernovablymounted on the tubular end 111 and held in place by a nut 115. The tube112 can be of synthetic plastic material.

It will be noted that the sprayer control body 30, the valve plunger 56,the spool 80, the pin 82, the supply fitting 45 and the nut 47 with orwithout the extension can be made on automatic machines and readilyassembled for use and disassembled for inspection and cleaning ifnecessary.

At the same time the structure is rugged and sturdy to meet the demandsmade upon it in use.

The handle body '10 can be molded with the bushing 19 inserted duringthe molding and the passageway 24 formed during the molding by insertionof a tube. (not shown) The sprayer of the invention has a pressure tankof conventional type, with a built in pump or with a check valvecontrolled pressure connection for charging, loaded with a liquidmaterial to be dispensed in dispersed form, is connected to the pipe 23.In a specific embodiment the liquid may be supplied at a pressure of theorder of 10 psi and a source of gas under pressure such as a carbondioxide or air cylinder is connected to the pipe 52, and which in thesame specific embodiment may be of the order of 30 psi.

The trigger 12, urged forwardly by the spring 58 is ready for use. Inthis condition flow of liquid is cut off by the packing 80 and flow ofgas is cut off by the packing 74.

When it is desired to deliver a spray the trigger 12 is manually moyedrearwardly to move the rod 15 rearwardly, against the force of thespring 58.

Ina particular embodiment movement of the rod 15 a distance ofone-eighth of an inch will suffice.

Rearward movement of the rod 15 is effective to move the valve plunger56 from the shutoff position Shown in FIG.

The positioning of the valve plunger 56 in its dispensing positionpermits of liquid flow under pressure .through the pipe 23, thefluidconnection 24 in the body 10, the enlargement 60, the interiorspace 59 and the transvegse passageways 83 to the bore 84.

The packing 70 prevents access of liquid therebeyond along the bore 61either upon movement of the valve plunger 56 or when it is at rest ateither end of its stroke.

Liquid from the bore 84 passes outwardly through the transversepassageways 85 and past the packing 80 in the flow" position of plunger56, and to and through the discharge passageway 105. The passageway 105is small so that the liquid is discharged in a straight hollowcylindrical stream, the stream being very thin and ready to separateinto small droplets. The velocity and pressure cause the stream toquickly separate.

Liquid under pressure is blocked by the packing 76 from return along thebore 102.

At the same time that the liquid is being delivered as just described,gas under pressure is delivered through the supply pipe 52 to the space50 and through the passageway 67 to the space 72. Gas is prevented bythe packing 70 from rearward movement along the bore 61 and is permittedby the packing 74 to pass through the slots 90 to the passageway 92 andto the passageway 102. The packing 76 blocks advance along thepassageway 102.

Gas in the passageway 92 moves to the space 66, through the slots 94 andcut-out space 99 to and along the passageway 98 and this flow ispreferably initiated before liquid is discharged and upon shut-off isterminated after the cut-off of liquid flow.

The passageway 98 is small so that the gas upon discharge in a hollowcylindrical stream by reason of its velocity and pressure impinges onand mixes with the stream from the passageway 105 to produce an aerosolspray.

If gas is not employed the resulting discharge of liquid is in atomizedrather than aerosol form.

The use of the tubular dispensing tube 112 tends to confine thedischarge of liquid alone in atomized or stream form or the liquid andgas in aerosol form but is particularly suited for directed deliveryinto cracks and crevices.

The particle size can be controlled by change in the pressure of theliquid in the tank and with the gas oper' ating at a fixed pressurelevel.

I claim:

1. A sprayer for liquids comprising a sprayer control body of generallytubular form and having an inlet end with a first interior boreterminating at an interior shoulder and a delivery end with a secondinterior bore extending from said shoulder,

a connection to a source of liquid under pressure to be dispensed andconnected to the inlet end of said body,

a spool fixedly mounted in said body and extending from said shouldertoward said outlet,

a nozzle nut carried on said delivery end of said body,

a valve plunger movable in said body,

a spring urging said plunger in one direction,

a member for moving said plunger against the force of said spring,

said spool and said valve plunger having portions providing a restricteddischarge passageway for atomization of liquid delivered therefrom,

said body and said plunger defining first liquid passageways,

said plunger and said spool defining second liquid passagewayscommunicating with said first passageways for delivery of liquid to andthrough said discharge passageway,

a first flow control member interposed between said spool and saidplunger member and upstream of said discharge passageway cutting offliquid flow through said passageways in one position of said plunger,

an additional pressure fluid supply connection on said body for gasunder pressure,

said body and said spool having portions defining fluid passageways fordelivery of said gas from said additional supply connection,

said nozzle nut and said spool having portions providing a restricteddischarge passageway to which said last mentioned fluid passageways areconnected for discharge to gas contiguous to said liquid dischargepassageway, and

a second flow control member interposed between said body and saidplunger for cutting off gas delivery in said one position of saidplunger.

2. A sprayer as defined in claim 1 in which said spool has fluidpassageways which are closed by said first flow control member.

3. A sprayer as defined in claim 1 in which said flow control membersare in predetermined relation for effecting gas flow in advance ofliquid flow upon initiation of delivery.

4. A sprayer as defined in claim 1 in which said flow control membersare in predetermined relation for effecting cut-off of liquid flow priorto cut off of gas flow upon shut-off.

5. A sprayer as defined in claim 1 in which said gas dischargepassageway is in surrounding relation to said liquid dischargepassageway.

6. A sprayer as defined in claim 1 in which said nozzle nut has atubular extension detachably mounted thereon for receiving anddelivering the fluid from said discharge passageways.

7. A sprayer as defined in claim 1 in which said additional pressurefluid supply connection is swingably carried on said body, and

sealing members are interposed between said supply connection and saidbody for preventing fluid leakage.

8. A sprayer as defined in claim 7 in which said supply connection isretained on said body by said nozzle nut.

9. A sprayer as defined in claim 1 in which sealing members are providedbetween said plunger and said body and between said plunger and saidspool for preventing fluid leakage.

10. A sprayer as defined in claim 1 in which said spool is retained inposition by said nozzle nut.

11. A sprayer as defined in claim 1 in which said plunger has alongitudinally axially extending pin portion disposed within and spacedfrom a portion of said valve plunger to provide said dischargepassageway.

1. A sprayer for liquids comprising a sprayer control body of generallytubular form and having an inlet end with a first interior boreterminating at an interior shoulder and a delivery end with a secondinterior bore extending from said shoulder, a connection to a source ofliquid under pressure to be dispensed and connected to the inlet end ofsaid body, a spool fixedly mounted in said body and extending from saidshoulder toward said outlet, a nozzle nut carried on said delivery endof said body, a valve plunger movable in said body, a spring urging saidplunger in one direction, a member for moving said plunger against theforce of said spring, said spool and said valve plunger having portionsproviding a restricted discharge passageway for atomization of liquiddelivered therefrom, said body and said plunger defining first liquidpassageways, said plunger and said spool defining second liquidpassageways communicating with said first passageways for delivery ofliquid to and through said discharge passageway, a first flow controlmember interposed between said spool and said plunger member andupstream of said discharge passageway cutting off liquid flow throughsaid passageways in one position of said plunger, an additional pressurefluid supply connection on said body for gas under pressure, said bodyand said spool having portions defining fluid passageways for deliveryof said gas from said additional supply connection, said nozzle nut andsaid spool having portions providing a restricted discharge passagewayto which said last mentioned fluid passageways are connected fordischarge to gas contiguous to said liquid discharge passageway, and asecond flow control member interposed between said body and said plungerfor cutting off gas delivery in said one position of said plunger.
 2. Asprayer as defined in claim 1 in which said spool has fluid passagewayswhich are closed by said first flow control member.
 3. A sprayer asdefined in claim 1 in which said flow control members are inpredetermined relation for effecting gas flow in advance of liquid flowupon initiation of delivery.
 4. A sprayer as defined in claim 1 in whichsaid flow control members are in predetermined relation for effectingcut-off of liquid flow prior to cut off of gas flow upon shut-off.
 5. Asprayer as defined in claim 1 in which said gas discharge passageway isin surrounding relation to said liquid discharge passageway.
 6. Asprayer as defined in claim 1 in which said nozzle nut has a tubularextension detachably mounted thereon for receiving and delivering thefluid from said discharge passageways.
 7. A sprayer as defined in claim1 in which said additional pressure fluid supply connection is swingablycarried on said body, and sealing members are interposed between saidsupply connection and said body for preventing fluid leakage.
 8. Asprayer as defined in claim 7 in which said supply connection isretained on said body by said nozzle nut.
 9. A sprayer as defined inclaim 1 in which sealing members are provided between said plunger andsaid body and between said plunger and said spool for preventing fluidleakage.
 10. A sprayer as defined in claim 1 in which said spool isretained in position by said nozzle nut.
 11. A sprayer as defined inclaim 1 in which said plunger has a longitudinally axially extending pinportion disposed within and spaced from a portion of said valve plungerto provide said discharge passageway.